Pros:* Phallic image of vehicle vastly exceeds that of other motoristsCons:* Phallic image of vehicle vastly exceeds that of other motorists

IDEA 2:

Pros:* Given sufficient fuel-to-payload ratio and rocket booster, possible to achieve orbitCons:* Used up stages can only be jettisoned with little risk to people inside car

IDEA 3:

Pros:* Excellent physical workout will improve candidacy as mate and relieve stressCons:* Pavlovian conditioning may result in punching other objects when no longer inside vehicle

IDEA 4:

Pros:* Encourages future generations of engineering students to produce conditions where vehicle may be usedCons:* No, really, still a stupid idea

IDEA 5:

Pros:* Can be built out of common household materials, including as little as a cardboard box or even a purely imaginary frame of referenceCons:* Escape velocity prevents movement of cargo outside of the vehicle without the use of an additional vehicle

Here's a few others for all of 'em, too:

IDEA 1:

Pros:* Phallic image of vehicle vastly exceeds that of other motoristsCons:* Phallic image of vehicle vastly exceeds that of other motorists

IDEA 2:

Pros:* Given sufficient fuel-to-payload ratio and rocket booster, possible to achieve orbitCons:* Used up stages can only be jettisoned with little risk to people [i]inside[/i] car

IDEA 3:

Pros:* Excellent physical workout will improve candidacy as mate and relieve stressCons:* Pavlovian conditioning may result in punching other objects when no longer inside vehicle

IDEA 4:

Pros:* Encourages future generations of engineering students to produce conditions where vehicle may be usedCons:* No, really, still a stupid idea

IDEA 5:

Pros:* Can be built out of common household materials, including as little as a cardboard box or even a purely imaginary frame of referenceCons:* Escape velocity prevents movement of cargo outside of the vehicle without the use of an additional vehicle

Consider a cylindrical 250m x 20cm RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) powered by several 2m x 1cm rods of vitrified plutonium, mounted axially in an electric car (the long-awaited Tesla Pu?) and wired to continuously charge the battery pack. It would be relatively straightforward to engineer a shielded casing that would prevent measurable exposure or release even in the most horrific accidents, yet would still be light enough to allow for excellent vehicle performance. Any possible RTG breach or attempt to circumvent safety protocols would be immediately reported via satellite radio to a national authority tasked with responding to such incidents.

Pros:

The vehicle is fueled once at the point of manufacture and never again.

Charging would only be required when daily use exceeded the RTG output.

RTGs retired from high-performance vehicles could be reinstalled in lower-performance vehicles.

RTGs no longer suitable for vehicles could be daisy-chained to power homes or businesses.

All Tesla Pu's would necessarily be fully autonomous and self-driving (see Cons).

Cons:

Adequate ventilation is required when the RTG is operating at full power, to prevent a "Chernobyl@Home" incident.

Terrorist-spawning countries will need to be eliminated prior to starting full-scale vehicle production.

Since all countries are capable of spawning terrorists, the human race will, sadly, be extinct before the first model hit the streets.

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/fuel-efficiency

Zach missed a great one: plutonium.

Consider a cylindrical 250m x 20cm RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) powered by several 2m x 1cm rods of vitrified plutonium, mounted axially in an electric car (the long-awaited Tesla Pu?) and wired to continuously charge the battery pack. It would be relatively straightforward to engineer a shielded casing that would prevent measurable exposure or release even in the most horrific accidents, yet would still be light enough to allow for excellent vehicle performance. Any possible RTG breach or attempt to circumvent safety protocols would be immediately reported via satellite radio to a national authority tasked with responding to such incidents.

[b]Pros:[/b][list][*]The vehicle is fueled once at the point of manufacture and never again.[*]Charging would only be required when daily use exceeded the RTG output.[*]RTGs retired from high-performance vehicles could be reinstalled in lower-performance vehicles.[*]RTGs no longer suitable for vehicles could be daisy-chained to power homes or businesses.[*]All Tesla Pu's would necessarily be fully autonomous and self-driving (see Cons).[/list][b]Cons:[/b][list][*]Adequate ventilation is required when the RTG is operating at full power, to prevent a "Chernobyl@Home" incident.[*]Terrorist-spawning countries will need to be eliminated prior to starting full-scale vehicle production.[*]Since all countries are capable of spawning terrorists, the human race will, sadly, be extinct before the first model hit the streets.[/list]